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Monday, December 29, 2014

So my Christmas here in the Philippines was so so wonderful! Not at all like Christmas in the states. It's hot and rainy. There's no fudge or crapes. The houses aren't all decked out with decorations and lights or Christmas trees. And only some families even have gifts to give. I'm away from my family. But I had a Philippines Christmas. My Christmas was white in its own special way, the baptism of Albert(:

White Christmas with Albert

(you know cause he wears white) I didn't get my Christmas eve crapes but I did get rice at every house we visited (literally every visit, I could feel my skirt getting tighter and tighter around my waist) I had three packages to open Christmas morning from my wonderful family(: and I got Skype my family!! So with or without these things my Christmas was prime, mostly because I felt the true spirit of Christmas. The spirit of Christ! I love these people I get to serve here in the Philippines(: they have all become family to me!

The baptism of Albert was the most spiritual baptism I've attended. He has been an investigator for five years. He's attended church regularly all these years too but he never just had the desire to get baptized. My companion and I decided to follow up with him and he just really had a desire after a couple visits!! Its the spirit of Chirst I just know it. Albert is going to be a powerful leader of the church someday I just know it. He is like a robot. He had everything memorized!! Like he understood repentance so well. His testimony was so powerful! Him and Genie Love just got married that day too and he is so excited to go to the temple with her in a year! I love this gospel and I love seeing it change lives everyday! I love you all! And I love being a missionary! Stay fresh.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS! So its Christmas soon. I'm so excited(: we just get to proselyte allll day:D I've truly learned the true meaning of Christmas here. These people are so humble and they truly understand the meaning too. Its such a privilege to serve here. I hope you all remember the true meaning of Christmas this week! Because its the best Christmas remembering this for myself(:

So this week here in Santa Fe has been very stressful since neither of us really know the area. It kinda feels like white wash (or at least how I imagine a white wash would be) for all you missionaries and future missionaries, UPDATE YOUR AREA BOOKS!! And do a good job too. Because this is so frustrating. But we have a wonderful ward here! And they all just love missionaries(: being a missionary is the best guys(: So I can really testify that the Lord calls us to this work. Even the areas we are assigned to. The difference I feel between one week in Alijis and Santa Fe is insane. I know I'm supposed to be here in Santa Fe right now with Sister Arviola! She is an amazing missionary! She knows how to really help this ward!

So its different in the city! I have a real shower head in my house!!! :' ) and the water is so much warmer here! Like its still cold, but warmer(: and our house is a box! Its so cute. I love it. so tiny(: so I realized this week that I live in a Zombieland scene. Like we've got a big sign that says NEGROS PROVIDENCE (it looks like the Hollywood sign)

Providence Negros

but its all rusty and creepy and then we have creepy ripped flags flapping around everywhere and its just looks old. Yeah. But other than I feel like I'm going to be murdered when I'm walking home, I really love it here(:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Cor 5:7. Like this verse for two reasons. Because it has a smiley face(: and because its explains perfectly mine and Sister Arviola's week. We had to walk by our faith. Everyday my faith is tested and growing! Oh I love being a missionary(:

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Welcome to the Bacolod Philippines mission where every week we have transfers. I was just transferred to Santa Fe today and my new companion is Sister Arviola. She is so funny! We're gonna get along great I think(: and our area is in the City again. Its gonna take time to get used to the city, its so different! I'm really home sick for Sagay but its okay I'll get over it.

Will she do it? Looks excited.

So I was transferred to Alijis last Monday and I was with Sister Cruz again and it was so fun! I thought I was going to have to learn the area in just a week but then they called me yesterday and they pulled the Sisters out of that area and Elders will take it over. The area was pretty great too. We had an investigator that lived in Florida for like 14 years so he had a sweet accent and he was so cool and then when he would speak in Hiligaynon it went away! I want that. Lots of adventures in Alijis. I got to eat the famous balut that everyone has been asking me if I tried yet.
Haha it was crazy. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be either! Like sucking the juice out tasted just like fried chicken!!

Down it goes! MMmmM

And I taught the kids how to have swag. My one week there was pretty great(:

Brother Generoso's Baptism

Brother Generoso was baptized too(: I know I wasn't his missionary but oh I love him! The week I was there and got to see how much he loves this gospel made my love grow even more! So the church is very, very far away from his house and he walked to his baptism!!
He was an hour and a half late, but he was so determined to be baptized! These people make my faith grow everyday! I love this work, I love my Savior and I love being a missionary!! Stay fresh!!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Hello tanan!! So this was a crazy week. I don't even know where to start. The typhoon or transfers? We'll start with the typhoon. So this week the weather was so hot like unbelievable hot and I've started figuring out that when it gets really hot that means its going to rain. So I was like "Sister Molejon its gonna rain! Hard." and she was like "yeah a bagyo is coming" I didn't know bagyo meant typhoon at the time so I just was like "oh yeah of course the bagyo is coming" cause she said it like I should know what it is. And then we receive a text on Thursday from the zone leaders "We will be having mission lock down starting Friday at six pm until Saturday night" So I finally I was like "Sister what is going on?" I was so confused! Haha so lock down almost killed me. We just had to stay in our house from 6 pm on Friday all the way to Monday morning.

Typhoon

These days were the hardest of my whole mission so far that's for sure! At first I was like yeah I get a little time to relax but it was killing me that I couldn't got out and work! And we were supposed to have a baptism Saturday and investigators that were expecting visits! Oh and get this. Church was canceled, ever heard of a missionary not going to church on Sunday? Well now you have! So crazy.So Sunday evening I got the call that I was going to transfer. Transfers are really next week. So I'm flippin out. And guess who's my companion? SISTER CRUZ!!

Jacey and Sister Cruz

I could not believe it! She goes home next week so I was just like this isn't real? Stop messin with me! But its real, I've got a week to learn our area and I guess its huge :-) but I'm so excited to be companions with Sister Cruz again! I was so afraid to have to re-adjust to like everything so this just lightens the blow(: So funny story with the guy playing the banjo. We're teaching this lady and the spirit is working so hard so we invite her to be baptized and right in the middle of the invitation this guy comes up and starts playing some Christmas song on his banjo and just took the whole mood away but you can't help but laugh, only in the Philippines(:

Banjo Man

Then our family home evening with Hilmar and friends!! He is 20 and such a great investigator! I'll miss teaching him because he had such great insights on all the lessons. And then just one last picture in my favorite part of our area! (I didn't know it would be my last picture but its cool) Selfie with Sister Cruz walking here to email!!(:So I was reading in my scriptures last night and I found the most amazing verse that just completely comforted me for transfers. "I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannnot feel them upon your backs...and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." Moshiah 24:14 I know He is always there to make our burdens light. I know we will still have them but its because of Him that we don't have to carry them alone. What a beautiful gift for us this Christmas season. Now what are we gonna give back? I love you all so much and thank you for all the prayers and packages and emails!! I'm sorry if I can't get back to you all, I have one hour gid to email so its hard!! Have a wonderful week and stay fresh! Sister Schimbeck

Monday, December 1, 2014

Hey ya'll!! So this week flew by. Like I really don't have that much to say this week except for that I've felt my Heavenly Fathers love so much! In every aspect of my life and this work I can feel His love. And also the atonement of Jesus Christ. I love learning about the atonement, its so much more than just a forgiveness for sins. It can be felt through people. And that is the way I saw the atonement in my life and the lives of others this week. Heavenly Father is so aware of us and all our needs. They're literally waiting for us to just acknowledge this wonderful gift from them! And this time of the year is the best time to be and see that gift! Oh I love Christmas time. Okay so I decided that I need to hear all your spiritual experiences through out the week! Please email them to me(: like they really make my week and help my testimony grow! I love being a missionary and I love my Savior! Have a great week!

Packages to the Philippines:

Write Using "Dear Elder.com" For free

Send mail free using http://dearelder.com

Click on "Pouch (Free)", then select "Philippines Bacolod" mission. Then click on Write a Missionary, enter your return address and enter "Sister Jacey Schimbeck", Write your letter and then click "Send Letter". It may take a little longer but at least you can write her easily!